Minimum Standards for Tribal Child Care: A Health and Safety Guide
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Section III:
Infection Control
Sanitation
Principle
Proper sanitation practices significantly reduce the spread of disease.
Why This Is Important
- Germs can be spread in the child care setting, toilet areas, and on toys.
- Practicing good personal and environmental hygiene reduces the incidence of infectious diseases.
- Diapering and the disposal of solid waste in the child care setting create the risk of infection and need to be managed safely.
Standards
- General sanitation equipment should be kept clean, sanitary, and in operable condition.
- Any surface contaminated by body fluids (saliva, mucus, vomit, urine, stools, or blood) should be cleaned and disinfected immediately, and caregivers should use Standard Precautions (see Appendix), including the wearing of gloves, when cleaning contaminated areas.
- Toilet areas, including sinks, countertops, faucets, handles, doorknobs, toilet bowls, and toilet seats, should be cleaned daily. These areas should be cleaned immediately when soiled.
- Potty chairs and changing tables should be cleaned and disinfected after each use.
- Floors should be cleaned daily; when soiled, they should be cleaned immediately. Carpets and rugs should be shampooed when soiled and vacuumed at least daily.
- Toys should be cleaned weekly; when soiled, they should be cleaned immediately. Small toys that children can place in their mouths should be cleaned and disinfected after each use.
- Garbage and rubbish should be removed from rooms where children and adults will be present.
- Garbage and rubbish should be stored in closed containers that prevent access by children, insects, and rodents and other animals.
Food Service Sanitation
- Food preparation areas should be separate from play, toilet, bathroom, and diaper changing areas, and areas where animals are kept.
| NOTE: In child care centers, food preparation areas should be separate from eating areas as well. |
- Food preparation areas, including countertops and tabletops, should be cleaned and disinfected before and after each use.
- Dishes, highchair trays, and food service utensils should be cleaned and disinfected after each use. Dishes and food service utensils should be cleaned in separate wash basins from those used to clean up after diaper changing.
- Dishes and food service utensils should be allowed to air dry and stored in a manner that preserves their clean/disinfected status.
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